ILGA-Europe gets consultative status with United Nations!

On 11 December 2006, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations approved ILGA-Europe’s application for consultative status.

The consultative status was also granted to two of ILGA-Europe’s members – the Danish National Association for Gays and Lesbians – LBL, and the Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany – LSVD.

ILGA-Europe specifically acknowledges the European Union for its consistent commitment, support and leadership regarding the applications from organisations combating discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. We also acknowledge the dedicated co-operative work of sister NGOs around the worlds lobbying for this recognition.

Patricia Prendiville, Executive Director of ILGA-Europe, said:

“We are delighted with the decision to grant ILGA-Europe and two of its members consultative status with ECOSOC. This is a truly historic decision as now organisations representing and defending rights of LGBT people can address discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity at the United Nations level. This is the best recognition of LGBT rights as human rights that LGBT activists could have received one day after marking International Human Rights Day on 10th December.

We hope this decision marks a fundamental change at the UN level with regards to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Just days ago 54 member states of the UN supported a statement acknowledging these forms of discrimination and calling upon the UN to seriously address them.”

(1) ILGA-Europe is the European Region of the International Lesbian and Gay Association and works for equality and human rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Europe. ILGA was established in 1978 and is a federation of 550 organisations across the world. ILGA-Europe was established as ILGA’s European region in 1996 and has over 200 members in Europe. More information: www.ilga-europe.org[1]